Kite construction



Jan. 7, 1964 A. W.-GOULD 3,1

KITE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. 18527 14 Gal/Z0 Jan. 7, 1964 A. w. GOULD 3,116,902

KITE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 1. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F IG. 4

& ELL/ll mi FIG. 5

l/II/I/I/I/Il INVENTOR.

United States Patent KHTE CGNSTRUCTIDN Aihert W. Gould, Great Neck, NY. (12-0 Madison St, Brooklyn, N.Y.) Filed Nov. 1, 1969, Ser. No. 66,561 1 Claim. (Cl. 244153) The present invention relates to a kite construction.

Although not limited thereto, the present invention will be particularly described in its application to a kite construction, and particularly in its application to a thin plastic kite construction which may be flown and have bird like qualities.

A further object is to provide a novel flexible kite construction which may be readily assembled of lightweight materials and which when flown, may be caused to simulate the action of a bird in flight.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, ho-we-ver, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the ant without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactory according to one embodiment of the present invention to provide a kite construction consisting of a cross like frame for a central vertical main spine member with relatively movable outstanding side members which are attached to the spine member by means of a sloppy or laminated movement fit.

The plastic body of the kite itself may simulate the outline of a bird, and the ends of the wings may extend to the ends of the cross member.

The upper end of the spine member should preferably be positioned at the end of the head, and the lower end of the spine should be positioned at the lower end of the tail.

Desirably, the ends of the arms and the ends of the cross member are connected together by a peripheral extendingcord which fits into slots or otherwise permanently connected to the ends of the vertical member and cross members.

The plastic body of the kite itself is not attached to the skeleton or cross structure directly, but is attached to the peripheral cord or strings by means of heat sealing.

Desirably, the peripheral cords are coated with a plastic material which enables them to be heat sealed to the body of the kite, or they are stapled or eyeleted to the body of the kite.

it is a particular feature of the present invention that the body of the kite is attached to the peripheral cords while the cords are attached to the skeleton so that there is no direct connection between the body of the kite itself and the skeleton.

In respect to the pull cord, the pull cord is joined by two triangular arrangements, one of which is attached to the strings which form the upper edges of the strin s, and the other of which is attached to the upper and lower ends of the vertical spine member.

These two triangular arrangements are joined together by a short cord, and this short cord in turn is joined to the flying or main carrier cord for the kite.

By this construction, it is possible to obtain an unusually strong yet flexible kite construction with treedom of wing and body movements which closely approximates the action of a flying bird and with pulling or release of the suspension or pull cord giving an unusual flying efiect.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically iihfi dz Patented Jan. 7, 1964 described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifi: cations can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of the kite construction as it would appear from the ground while being flown.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view showing the skeleton and peripheral cord without the suspension cord.

PEG. 2a is a fragmentary diagrammatic View showing the manner of attaching the cord to the ends of the skeleton structure.

FIG. 2b is a diagrammatic transverse sectional view upon the line 2b2b of H6. 2 showing the manner in which the cord is attached to the body of the kite upon an enlarged scale as compared to PEG. 2.

PEG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the line of 33 of H6. 2 upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a transverse fragmentary sectional View upon an enlarged scale showing the sloppy fit of the inside ends of the side arms and the vertical spine arm.

FIG. 5 is a transverse fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing an alternative embodiment.

E6. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 showing an alternative form of pivotal connection between the side arms and central spine.

7 is a transverse sectional view upon the line 77 of MG. 6.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the body of re kite A is a thin plastic film, such as plastic.

The cruciform skeleton B may be formed of light metal sticks or even light metal rods.

The junction C at the crossing point will permit slight relative movement in respect to the spine structure of the crosses.

The peripheral cord structure D will extend around and between the ends of the cross members B and will serve as a means of attachment of the body A of the kite to the cross structure B.

The suspension cord E will be connected to a triangular system F attached to the ends of the vertical member of the cross B, and it will also be connected to the triangular system G attached to the top wing portions of the body A.

These two triangular systems G and F will normally be connected to the suspensioncord B through an intermediate connection H.

In the preferred form of the invention, the triangular system G is directly connected to the end of the cord E while the triangular system F is connected through the intervening cord H to the end of the cord E.

it will be noted that the triangular system F is connected to the spine of the cross B while the triangular system G is connected to the edges of the flexible wing structure.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the body A has wing portions ill, a tail portion 11 and a head portion 12.

The skeleton structure B has the spine portion 13 and the side arms 1 Referring to FIG. 4, the main spine portion 13 may consist of a round stick or rod of light metal, such as, aluminum or magnesium, or it may be a lightweight strong tube. 2

The short transverse sleeve 15 is fitted therein at the crossing point, and it may be frictionally connected at 3,11s,so2

16, or notches or staples may be provided to hold it in position.

The inside ends 17 of the arms 14 fit in the sockets 113 formed by the tube 15, and since their diameters are smaller than the sockets 13, they have a sloppy fit which permits a certain amount of free movement both in the directions 19 as indicated in 4 as well as in the directions transverse thereto.

This loose fit as indicated in FIG. 4 permits a flapping motion of the wings in view of the limited freedom of movement of the side spar or cross members, both in the direction 19, and in the direction transverse to the direction 19.

The upper and lower ends 26 and Z1 and the outside ends 22 will carry the continuous peripheral cord D by eyelets or by a slotted connection as is indicated for example in FIG. 2a.

As shown in FIG. 2a, the end slot 23 will receive the portion 24 of the cord D which extends peripherally around the outside of the kite structure, and which is tightly engaged so that it will also limit the freedom of movement of the cross members 14.

The peripheral cord system D will join the body A of the kite to the cross skeleton structure B.

Desirably, the body 25 of the cord as shown in PEG. 25 has an impregnation or coating of a plastic material of. the same nature as the plastic body A of the kite, and this may be heat sealed to the edge portions 27 of the body of the kite by heat at the crossing areas as for example are indicated at 28 in the tail section, 29 at the lower portions of the wings, and 36 at the upper portion of the head.

The upper edges of the wings as indicated at 31 may be sealed in the same manner as indicated in FIG. 2b, but they preferably may be held in position by means of the eyelets 32 which are heat sealed at 33 to the edge 3i. of the wing structure.

If desired, the upper edge of the wing structure might be wrapped around the cords, and heat sealed thereto to give a suitable connection.

It is thus apparent that the construction of the kite as shown in FEGS. 1 and 2 involves connecting the skeleton B to the peripheral cord D which then is heat sealed or otherwise connected by eyelets to the crossing portions of the peripheral cord D at 28, 2?, 3t? and 31.

This connection permits greater flexibility and lightness of the kite and enables the operation thereof to simulate a flying bird without the heaviness of the support skeleton greatly constricting the flapping movement.

In connection with the suspension cord or the leading cord system, the triangular system F has a junction at 45 where the upper cord 46 joins the lower cord 47.

The ends 4 3 and 49 of these cords are stapled or otherwise permanently fastened to the upper and lower ends 26 and 21 of the central cross member 13.

This triangular cord system F includes the cords 46 and 47 and will act as a base structure for the suspension cord system, and it is connected by the short run or extension H to the outer junction Sit.

The outer junction 58 joins together the two cord members i which connect the cross cord members along the upper edges 31 of the wings it) at the junction points 52.

These junction points 52 may be formed by heat sealing, by staples or by tying the cords together.

The junction point 50 is connected directly to the string or cord E which goes down to the earth and is held by the user of the kite.

These two triangular systems F formed of the cords 46 and 47 and G formed of the cords 51 give the flying movement to the Wings 19 of the body A.

When the cord E is pulled down by the user of the kite, the pressure at the junction point Sll will cause the Wings 14 to come together and be lowered from their normal horizontal position.

This will create a reverse bias or strain in the cord structure 46 and 47 forming part of the inside triangular system F.

Therefore, when the suspension or holding string is momentarily released, the wings ill will tend to fly back in their upper position or more horizontal position, and this alternating pull and release on the string E will cause a very attractive and unusual flying movement of the kite.

A pull or substantial jerk on the string B will tend to cause the wings ill to flap together downwardly tensioning the inside system 46 and 47 through the short cord H and the junction 45, and the release will permit the wings to llap up.

The side elements 14 as Well as the vertical or main spine 13 of the cross element B will usually have such flexibility or pliability so as to permit slight movement thereof and a reverse restoration movement under the action of the main cord E and the triangular systems F and G.

In the alternative junction structure indicated at D in FIG. 5, the main spine member '79 is provided with a cross bar or rod '71 which fits in the recesses 72 on the inside end 73 of the side arms.

This socket connection of the cross bar or rod 71 in the socket 72 will permit the limited flapping motion characteristic or" the junction structure C.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the junction structure E has a vertical member 89 which is clamped between the fiat spring coils 31 at the junction point.

These flat spring coils are tied by the loops 82 and by the integral connections $3 to the coil members 84 which serve as sockets to receive the ends 85 of the cross members.

Each coil 84 will have a separated spiral structure 84, and also will have two flat coils 8-1 joined thereto by the inside members 86.

This junction structure shown in E permits the same limited movement of the cross bars 85 in respect to the main spine member till as is true in the junctions of FIGS. 4 and 5.

It is apparent that the applicant has provided a simple kite structure which is readily down of inexpensive manufacture, and permits a flapping movement.

The junction of the polyethylene film A together with the coated or impregnated cords 25 Will. give a permaent junction between the peripheral cord system D and the body A of the kite, which structure then may be mounted on the ends of the cruciform skeleton B.

Normally, in flying the kite, the wind will hold the kite up and hat, and a jerk or pull on the cord E will cause the wings to flap together with subsequent release, restoring the wings to their fiat condition.

instead of sealing the peripheral cord system in the manner indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is also possible to use strips of polyethylene material to seal the cords D down to and against the body of the kite.

As many changes could be made in the above kite construction, and many widely difierent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claim, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

A movable flapping wing kite construction comprising a central cruciform skeleton with a straight vertical rigid spine element and movable sidewardly and outwardly extending cross arm elements transverse to said spine element, said cross arm elements having inside and outside ends, having id-iametral slots at the outside ends and pivotal cup connections on opposite sides of the spine elenent, a plastic cover of bird shape extending to the outside ends of the spine elements and the outside ends of the cross arm elements and having recessed portions between said ends and straight tubular attachments extending along and joined to the edges of the unrecessed portions of the plastic cover converging toward said outside ends and a continuous cord extending through said tubular portions and said slots and around the entire periphery of the kite, said cup connections being formed of coil spring elements mounted upon the spine and having a central clip connection for the spine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cash 0 Apr. 24, 1923 Holtvoight Aug. 14, 1923 Lang Jan. 6, 1948 Frey May 16, 1950 

